The Savvy Guide To Software Development Consultancy

Digitalization has become a driving force in recent years, with businesses increasingly embracing the “go digital or go home” mantra. This surge in digital adoption has fueled the demand for IT consulting services, particularly software development consulting. Companies lacking the necessary skills, IT infrastructure, or talent are turning to software development consultancy to navigate the complexities of digital transformation and achieve their business goals. In fact, according to Grand View Research, the global software consulting market size was valued at USD 273.13 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1% from 2023 to 2030. This article provides a comprehensive overview of software development consulting, exploring its benefits, processes, and key considerations for choosing the right consulting partner.

1. What is Software Development Consultancy?

Software development consulting provides expert guidance and technical expertise to businesses seeking to leverage technology for growth and innovation. Software development consultancy services help organizations analyze their needs, define their digital transformation strategy, and implement effective solutions. This can include guidance on software development strategy, technology selection, and implementation, especially for those navigating the complexities of software development for startups.

2. What Does Software Development Consultant Do?

A software development consultant plays a multifaceted role, going beyond simply recommending technical solutions. They delve deep into understanding your business needs, collaborate with development teams, and oversee the implementation process to ensure that the chosen solutions align with your goals and deliver tangible results. This may involve conducting technical due diligence on potential technology investments or providing guidance on software development best practices. They can also help you understand the different software development types available and choose the one that best suits your needs.

3. The Benefits of Software Development Consulting Services for Business

Now that you fully understand and know what software development consulting is, it’s time to list the benefits businesses get from hiring software development consultants.

3.1. In-Depth Technical Planning

 Consultants help you develop a comprehensive technology roadmap aligned with your business objectives, taking into account factors like software development timeline and budget constraints.

3.2. Up-to-date Modern Technologies

Consultants keep you informed about the latest software development trends and recommend solutions that enhance your competitive advantage.

Besides, suppose your staff isn’t tech-savvy. In that case, Savvycom’s software development consultants take on the responsibility of training personnel to work with a newly implemented solution.

3.3. Even More Time for Business Operations

By delegating IT planning and implementation to consultants, you can free up valuable time and resources to focus on your core business activities. A Deloitte survey found that 70% of companies that outsourced IT functions reported increased efficiency and productivity.

4. Pros and Cons of Hiring Software Development Consultant

Like any other cooperation model similar to IT Outsourcing Services, software development consulting services have pros and cons that you should definitely know about before making a decision.

4.1. The Pros

Cost-Effectiveness

Hiring a consultant can save the software development cost than building an in-house team, especially for short-term projects or specialized expertise. This can be particularly beneficial for startups or businesses with limited resources.

Getting Expert Opinion

 Consultants provide unbiased and expert advice on technology solutions, helping you make informed decisions. Companies that provide software development consulting services are always on cutting-edge technologies and ready to provide expert advice to other businesses. As a result, you’ll get the latest information about technological trends and an unbiased opinion about what technologies can help your company with a particular problem.

Lower Risks & High Rewards

Experienced consultants can help you navigate the complexities of technology implementation and mitigate potential risks. Experienced software development consultants know the ins and outs of this software development process, and they can foresee as well as plan a smooth update process to migrate all business data.

Specialized Industry Experts

Software consulting firms offer access to a diverse pool of talent with specialized skills in various technologies and domains. Furthermore, all consulting firms focus on contemporary technologies. Give them your business aims and needs, and they’ll create a cutting-edge solution that complies with them.

4.2. Cons of Consulting Services

You should consider some drawbacks of consulting services when deciding to turn to software development consulting.

Communication difficulties

Being able to choose any company and work with professionals from any country worldwide sounds exciting. However, don’t forget that you may speak a different language and have a separate business culture. So communication difficulties can arise, leading to misunderstandings and missed deadlines. However, it’s not typically the case with experienced companies with a good market reputation.

Time zone difference

This is another reasonably common pitfall of working with foreign consulting companies. While a consultant on the other side of the world is already working and wants to discuss some aspects of the project with you, you can still be asleep. This problem can be partially solved by drawing up a meeting schedule that’ll be convenient for both parties.

5. The Processes of Software Development and Consulting

Software development consulting typically involves a multi-stage process, often guided by a defined software development lifecycle (SDLC) and utilizing appropriate software development methodologies:

5.1. The Discovery Phase

It’s almost impossible to come up with a tech strategy/solution and proceed to development without a thorough study of the client’s business. The Discovery phase helps consultants get acquainted with the company they’re going to work with:

• During this phase, our consultants at Savvycom will hold meetings with the client to collect information about the business, gather much-needed requirements, and analyze its strength and pain points. All this data will help consultants determine the perfect solution that suits business goals and needs.
• All information and requirements are packed into a specification containing all the project’s features and technologies and greatly simplifying communication between business and developers. Without customer approval of the specification, further stages can’t start.
• The last stage of this phase is the choice of how a recommended solution will be implemented. A consultant can rely on their management skills and team up with the client’s development team to manage the development process from start to finish. Another option is to select a consulting company as the primary IT service provider to build the solution from scratch.

Whatever the choice, the client will face a pretty standard development cycle with the stages discussed below.

5.2. Product Design

After collecting all the required information, our designers begin sketching out the product’s appearance and making wireframes, which represent what you would see with your own eyes and the transitions on different screens.

After that, wireframes are approved by quality assurance engineers. They exclude logical issues to provide the business owner with polished wireframes. Once the client that means you agree, our designers will create full-fledged mockups, which are the final version of each screen. Upon completion of the design phase, all mockups are transferred to developers for future development.

5.3. Product Development

This very important stage marks the beginning of active development. Developers implement features, testers check their performance, and this continues until all the agreed functionality is implemented. At Savvycom, our customer is always aware of the development process, thanks to scheduled meetings and reports provided by the development team. Developers build the software solution, following best practices and coding standards. This may involve using Agile software development methodologies.

5.4. Delivery Phase

After project development, the vendor transfers the final product to the customer, and the project goes into the release stage. Customers can ask for additional assistance in mastering and training staff to work with a new product if there’s a need. In that case, we will provide a team of consultants who conduct the onboarding process. The final product is delivered, and ongoing support and software maintenance are provided.

6. How to Hire a Software Development Consultant?

Before looking for a company that provides software development consulting services, you need to choose where to look for it. It’s crucial not to neglect this since the price of services, the convenience of communication, and management often depend on the vendor’s location.

You can choose between three types of companies: onshore, nearshore, and offshore.

6.1. Onshore

The distinguishing feature of onshore companies is that they’re located in the same country as you. The vendor may be found in another city, state, or region, but most importantly, it’s within your country’s borders. This is a convenient option since there are no language or cultural differences.

6.2. Nearshore companies

Companies of this category are located in your country’s neighborhood, and often the time interval between your and the vendor’s country is no more than 1-3 hours.

6.3. Offshore companies

Offshore development companies aren’t only located in other countries and other regions, and there can be a considerable time difference. For example, your company is located in Washington, USA, and you hired offshore developers from Vietnam and Singapore to work on the project.

Understanding Software Development Models

Different software development models exist, each with its own approach and benefits. Common models include Waterfall, Agile, and Iterative. Understanding these models can help you choose the right approach for your project.

The Importance of a Software Development Contract

When engaging a software development consultant or company, it’s crucial to have a clear and comprehensive software development contract in place. This contract should outline the scope of work, deliverables, timelines, payment terms, and other key aspects of the project.

A software development consultant can help you out if you dont know how to choose the right software development company. Consider factors such as their experience, expertise, portfolio, client reviews, and communication style.

Conclusion

In today’s digital age, software development consulting plays a vital role in helping businesses navigate the complexities of technology and achieve their strategic goals. By partnering with a skilled and experienced consultant, organizations can gain access to valuable expertise, reduce risks, and accelerate their digital transformation journey. As the demand for software development consultancy continues to grow, choosing the right partner is essential for maximizing the benefits of this strategic investment. Whether you’re looking for IT project management support, cloud consulting, or assistance with data analytics consulting, the right software development consultant can be a valuable asset in achieving your business objectives.

How to Effectively Hire A Software Consulting Company?

• Step #1: Define your goals and requirements
• Step #2: Make a list of vendors
• Step #3: Contact all vendors and negotiate with them
• Step #4: Make a final decision based on the negotiations result

What Does a Software Development Consultant Do?

1. Gathering Business Information And Requirements: As a consultant, it is essential for us to know everything about the business we assist. This includes business scope, industry, workflow, and other aspects.
2. Recommending a Suitable Implementation: Based on the gathered data beforehand, we shortlist a number of solutions that will best suit the company in terms of available resources.
3. Collaborating With Developers & Handling Development Process: If the solution we propose requires development from scratch, our software development consultant will team up with the development team to oversee the entire development process and transfer the proper requirement as well as the idea of the final product to the developers.
4. Testing Solutions: The developed solution should first and foremost work as intended and must be smoothly integrated into the company's business processes. The consultant also tests the final product with QA engineers to ensure we deliver a bug-free solution that will satisfy our clients.

The Pros and Cons of Software Consulting Services:

Software consulting services have several strengths that you should be aware of:

• Cost-effectiveness
• You receive expert opinion
• Lower risks
• You work with industry experts

Software consulting services has few minor drawbacks due to opportunity to hire company from any part of the world:

• Communication difficulties
• Time zone difference

What Types of Company Can You Choose?

• Onshore: The distinguishing feature of onshore companies is that they're located in the same country as you. The vendor may be found in another city, state, or region, but most importantly, it's within your country's borders. This is a convenient option since there are no language or cultural differences.
• Nearshore companies: Companies of this category are located in your country's neighborhood, and often the time interval between your and the vendor's country is no more than 1-3 hours.
• Offshore companies: The significant advantage of this outsourcing type is the vast selection of companies from all over the world. As a result, finding a company that suits your project best is effortless.